Session #6

Current Reality

Understanding the Bible

Read the passage below a couple of times and answer the following questions.

Romans 10:9-17

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Summary Teaching

Living in a Missional Rhythm - B.L.E.S.S.

As missionaries, our goal is to live in alignment with God's mission. For many of us, loving, serving, and sharing Jesus with others can be either too mechanical, making us appear as spiritual robots, or so relaxed and unplanned that it's challenging to teach others how to follow our evangelism model. The strategy we select for reaching the lost in our context should be effective in our personal ministry and transferable to others. If we don't practice what we preach, we must pause and ask ourselves, "Why am I teaching this if I'm not naturally inclined to use it?"

By living a life that demonstrates being on a mission in a transferable manner, we engage in pre-evangelism and pre-discipleship before a person converts. The way they encounter Jesus should be the same way they can naturally lead others to Him. Living on mission ought to feel natural and normal for everyone.

BLESS’ing is not about a new program or mechanical system of evangelism.  Rather it is about five missionary rhythms we live out where we live, work, learn and play.  BLESS isn’t about adding something; it’s about infusing everyday activities we are already doing with new gospel intentionality.  Each letter of BLESS corresponds with a different rhythm.

B is for Begin in Prayer

L is for Listen

E is for Eat

S is for Serve

S is for Story

God has designed us to live in rhythm and breathing is our most basic. With each of the rhythms, there is an “in” and “out” motion, and our goal is these will become like breathing, natural and almost unconscious.

Begin in Prayer

Prayer serves as both the means to reveal our mission and execute it.

Part 1: The "inhaling" aspect of prayer involves discovering our mission by following Jesus' voice through prayer. In essence, prayer is a dialogue as well as a monologue; we both listen and communicate. Listening prayer was a regular practice for Jesus. Scriptures state, "Jesus often withdrew to solitary places and prayed" (Luke 5:16), where He listened to His Father. Jesus mentioned, "For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me instructed me...what to say and what to speak" (John 12:29).

Part 2: The "exhaling" aspect entails carrying out the mission by praying for individuals and locations. When discerning our mission, we should pose these two questions in prayer:

1) God, where are you presently working in my living, working, and recreational spaces?

2) How can I participate?

Jesus declared, "My Father and I are constantly working" (John 5:17). God continuously searches for worshipers and desires our involvement. This aspect consists of praying by name for others and asking Jesus to restore our neighborhoods, workplaces, and other environments.

We ought to talk with God about people before we talk to them about God.

This method is how we perform our mission and establishes the rhythm for the remaining practices. God receives the glory since He facilitates the growth, and we experience the joy of partnering with Him.

Listen

Listening creates the necessary foundation for building strong relationships.

People don't really care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Part 1: The "breathing in" of listening involves genuinely understanding someone and their journey. By listening to people's stories, hopes, and struggles, we foster natural, caring connections with others. As we adopt a listening posture, we can hear both the person and the guidance of Jesus. Interestingly, Jesus, despite having all the answers, engaged in conversations filled with questions.

Part 2: The "breathing out" of listening involves asking questions that demonstrate genuine interest and a desire to deepen the relationship. Jesus was an attentive listener and an excellent teacher. Why? People are more likely to listen to those who listen to them.

Eat

Eating is an activity we all excel at. Intriguingly, Jesus conducted much of his ministry around meals, eating his way into people's lives and hearts. In the book of Luke alone, we find accounts of ten different meals. Moreover, even the second coming of Jesus is envisioned as a meal, the wedding supper of the lamb. Jesus demonstrates that sharing a meal embodies his Kingdom, showcasing flavor, feasting, fellowship, and enjoyment.

Part 1: We "breathe in" by dining with our immediate and spiritual families, deriving physical, spiritual, and relational nourishment essential for creating an inviting family environment for our non-Christian neighbors.

Part 2: We "breathe out" by following Jesus and his disciples in sharing meals with those perceived as outsiders, such as tax collectors, pagans, and prostitutes. Eating together fosters relationships beyond acquaintances, developing friendships. We start with prayer, listen, and then share meals with people in the places God is sending us. Over these meals, we often uncover ways to serve and care for them.

Serve

As we befriend others, we become aware of the needs in each other's lives.

Part 1: Surprisingly, we "breathe in" service by allowing others to serve us. In Luke 10, Jesus advises us to let the "person of peace" serve us. Thus, when neighbors offer their help, we should accept it with gratitude. This fosters equality, reciprocity, and trust in our relationships.

Part 2: We "breathe out" by serving others. Jesus outlined his mission, saying, "...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28). Our acts of service render God's Kingdom tangible for those who may not yet realize their value to God. By sharing our time, talents, and treasures, we exhibit Jesus to the world as stewards of God's gifts.

Story

The BLESS rhythms cultivate the ideal environment for sharing our hope in Jesus. We understand that everyone has a story, and we should assist others in recognizing God's work in their lives.

Part 1: The "breathing in" aspect involves listening to others' spiritual experiences and comprehending the journey that has shaped their current worldview, philosophy, or religion.

Part 2: The "breathing out" component entails sharing Jesus' story and the transformation it has brought to your life. Here, we present the gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit, recounting Jesus' life, death, and resurrection and its impact on our lives.

We should often ask, "Does everyone who knows me know the gospel?"

By consistently praying for someone, listening to them, sharing meals, and serving them, we earn the right to share our stories. Sharing our faith stories naturally occurs within relationships fortified by listening, communal meals, and service. Therefore, it is crucial to be ready to share His story and the difference knowing Jesus has made in our lives. This preparation involves training and practice, ensuring our conversations feel genuine.

Conclusion

The BLESS rhythms offer a powerful and authentic approach to living out our faith and sharing the love of Jesus with others. By incorporating these rhythms into our daily lives, we encourage genuine relationships and create opportunities for meaningful conversations about faith and Jesus.

Personal Challenge

End Session #6